Confident Teaching | Expect the Best

“A master can tell you what he expects of you. A teacher, though, awakens your own expectations.” Patricia Neal

Stressed Out K – 12 Education Series 3.0

High Expectations

One thing about effective teaching that remains consistent is the affect of designing your day around high expectations. Excellence in education comes at a high price and you hold the keys to making it happen. Nothing we’re unaware of, but sometimes it can get away from us real easy.

Stay focused on controlling the way you think about classroom situations. Lean toward optimism when others around you bring in all that negative garbage to the teacher’s lounge. You can do it. You’ve done it before right? Keep thinking the way you did when you started teaching and you’ll do just fine. Expect the best.

Above The Pavement

My career in the classroom began on the urban streets of Indianapolis, Indiana. I come from an outstanding city of commerce, sports, and hard working families that are driven to provide better for their children than what they grew up with. Yet the streets in my hood are as challenging as any major metropolitan city. And if you’re teaching in a city like mine you understand where I’m coming from. You’ve got to teach above the pavement so to say.

Geographic and economic circumstances can create a gloomy forecast for families in the hood and that may trickle over into your classroom. When you see the fog coming it’s important to stay focused on high expectations. Wrestling with low expectation has a spiritual element to it that you won’t beat down throwing elbows at. Press through the gloom on your knees praying for the leaders in your school, the families of your students, and your wisdom. I’ve said it before. In the words of my man Tavis Smiley at the end of each show, “Keep the faith” and keep it moving.

Sweet Smack Downs!

Stay out of the teachers lounge if it isn’t conducive to maintaining high expectations and unwavering student support. If my colleagues want to sit around and say a bunch of negative things about their students, their jobs, the principals, and their spouses during my lunchtime I’ve got to eat somewhere else. I love my teachers, but I love teachers with a sweet smack down mo better.

Smash The Boards

You’d think that I was Shaquelle O’Neil smashing the boards against negativity when it comes to protecting my confidence. Students do a good job cutting away at my high expectations of them without me having naysayer’s put their two cents in as well. Stay focused. Stay confident. And smack down negativity whenever you see low expectations on the rise.

As always please comment and share. Are you frustrated with colleagues having such low expectations? Why is it important to maintain high standards for your students and their families?

This is a new series called Stressed Out K – 12 Education. Over the next several weeks we will explore classroom issues surrounding special needs, at-risk behaviors, student – teacher and teacher – parent relationships, and much more as it relates to reducing stress created from educational systems, narrow minded thinking of difficult colleagues, and the headaches of some one else’s undisciplined kids.

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Great post. I am very lucky to work with a group of teachers who make the “teachers lounge” experience a positive one. We have a rule “no shop talk during lunch”….or you get points (we have a “donkey” of the year contest. It sounds silly…but actually forces you to be a good teacher who remains positive throughout the day. :) I’m in 15th place…I am proud to say.

Michael, Your building’s success with “donkey” is fantastic news! I’ll be posting it for the entire blogosphere to hear about this Tweetout Friday (#K12Live).

You should spotlight you all’s classroom successes and whatever other note worthy news from the teacher’s lounge on Twitter as well. You guys are excellent models for other buildings, tell I said so ;-D

Stay focused. Stay confident.
LaRon | @laroncarter

PS. Congratulations by the way. You’ll probably be in first place by the end of the month.

Hello. I love to read your writing. I don’t always understand everything—I haven’t seen the movies or had some of the experiences, although I was a school teacher/librarian for over 36 years (and took officer training in the Marines ;-) )
The things I do grasp completely are ones I agree with whole-heartedly! We are responsible for our actions (don’t shift the blame.) Avoid other school personnel with unhealthy attitudes toward teaching, students, education, themselves.
My facebook friend list includes tons of former students (now that I’m retired) and it is wonderful to read what they (and in some cases, their children) are doing now. When they tell me I’ve contributed to their lives, I walk on air for awhile.
I also friended your woman, who sounds quite awesome, as well.
Keep on being a positive influence in education!!